Storm floods Gaza hospital and displaces thousands living in tents

A severe winter storm has plunged the Gaza Strip into further crisis, flooding Gaza City's primary medical facility, Al-Shifa Hospital, and inundating thousands of displacement tents early Tuesday. The extreme weather exacerbates the dire living conditions for nearly a quarter-million families in the besieged Palestinian enclave, where infrastructure remains critically damaged from months of conflict.

Hospital Operations Disrupted by Inundation

According to on-site reports, rainwater leaked into key sections of Al-Shifa Hospital, including the emergency and reception departments, disrupting medical work. The facility, Gaza's largest hospital complex, sustained severe damage during the recent war and has struggled to rebuild due to Israeli restrictions on the entry of construction materials and essential equipment, despite a ceasefire being in place since October.

Tents Swept Away, Families Left Exposed

Witnesses described scenes of chaos as strong winds and floods tore through makeshift camps. "We woke up with the sound of strong winds hitting our tent... the winds uprooted the tent, and all our belongings flew away," said displaced Palestinian Khaled Abdel Aziz. He reported being left outside in the rain with his wife and children, with no alternative shelter. Hundreds sought refuge under the rubble of bombed-out buildings to escape the downpour.

Warnings of Imminent Collapse and Ongoing Siege

Gaza's Civil Defense spokesman, Mahmoud Basal, issued a stark warning that thousands of partially destroyed homes are now at immediate risk of collapse from the rain and wind. "These homes pose a grave danger... We have warned the world repeatedly, but to no avail," Basal stated. The storm follows a similar event last week that claimed 14 lives and damaged over 27,000 tents. Although a truce halted active fighting, Israel continues to impose strict limits on humanitarian aid entering Gaza, preventing meaningful recovery.